Parks & Natural Areas

PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS OF
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

ILLINOIS
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Illinois State Parks and Other Natural Areas
- Mississippi Palisades State Park. A few miles north of Savanna.
- The Savanna District of Upper Mississippi Fish & Wildlife Refuge is a very accessible park for the backwaters of the Mississippi River as it passes through Iowa and Illinois. Air photos of Pool 13 which includes the region around the Savanna park on the river.
IOWA
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Iowa State Parks and Recreation Areas
- Bellevue State Park Just outside of Bellevue.
- Mines of Spain State Recreation Area On the south edge of Dubuque.
  - Friends of The Mines of Spain
- Eagle Point Park This is in the northeast corner of Dubuque, overlooking Lock & Dam #11. It is a lovely old park, with Prairie School style buildings from the WPA era in the 1930's depression.
- Effigy Mounds National Monument A few miles north of Marquette.
- Pike's Peak State Park A few miles south of McGregor.
- Yellow River State Forest. A few miles north of Marquette.
- Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge. This is a unique microclimate preserving plants and animals from a colder time in history.
MINNESOTA
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Minnesota State Parks, Forests, and Recreation Areas.
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. A federal recreation area adjoining the Mississippi River as it passes through the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
- Great River Bluffs State Park. To the northwest of La Crosse.
- Frontenac State Park. A good place for watching migrating birds.
WISCONSIN
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, and Recreation Areas
- Merrick State Park. This is north of Fountain City on the Mississippi River. To obtain more information, use this map, clicking on the name of the park or using the alphabetical list.
- Nelson Dewey State Park. This is close to Cassville on the Mississippi River. To obtain more information, use this map, clicking on the name of the park or using the alphabetical list.
- Perrot State Park. This is approximately 1 mile west of Trempealeau (the river runs east-west around Trempealeau).
  For information regarding reservations, click here. Some pictures of the park and its environs.
- Wyalusing State Park. This is south of Prairie du Chien.
- Trempealeau National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a marvelous refuge, a real gem! It is located a few miles upriver from Trempealeau. The only signpost for it is from Hwys 35 & 54 to the east of Centerville; turn south on W. Prairie Road. Map from the Refuge office. Some pictures of the refuge and its environs.
- The Van Loon Wildlife Area is east of Trempealeau, adjacent to State Hwy 35 on the border of La Crosse County and Trempealeau County. There is a parking area off of Amsterdam Prairie Road. This area is also known locally as the "7 Bridges" park and the "McGilvray Road Bridges" park. It is a long trail built on the original road bed for Hwy 35, but now abandoned as a highway. It traverses the Black River delta area as it approaches the Mississippi River.
- Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
- The Alma Tundra Swan Watch website provides information on the Tundra Swan migration through Rieck's Lake in Alma, Wisconsin.

PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS OFTHE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS OF
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY